Saintpaulia: a compact plant with one strict rule
Saintpaulia is commonly called the African violet, though it is not related to true violets at all. The plant is compact, flowers in waves through most of the year, and fits on any windowsill, which explains its long popularity.
It has one real difficulty, and it is a significant one. Hairy leaves do not tolerate water, and most problems with this species begin with watering from above.
Watering
- Pour under the leaves at the edge of the pot, or fill the saucer instead.
- Empty any surplus from the saucer after twenty or thirty minutes.
- Use water at room temperature, since cold water marks the leaves with pale patches.
- Water once the top layer has dried rather than on a schedule.
Wick watering suits anyone who travels. It keeps moisture even and removes the risk of flooding, provided the substrate is open enough.
Misting is out of the question. Droplets sit in the leaf hairs, and combined with cool air that leads to marking and rot.
Light, temperature, container
Light should be bright and indirect. North and east windows work well, while a south facing one needs shading around midday.
Artificial lighting performs as well as daylight, and through winter it is often what keeps a plant flowering continuously.
Keep temperature steady and normal for a room. Draughts and cold glass in winter are handled badly.
Choose a small pot, noticeably narrower than the rosette. In a large container the plant builds roots and flowers reluctantly.
Shape the rosette by removing ageing lower leaves. A symmetrical rosette looks tidier and also lights more evenly.
Saintpaulia has almost no demands. It has one rule about water on its leaves, and that rule decides everything.
Who it suits
Anyone short of space, and anyone who wants year round flowering without large pots.
It propagates readily from a single leaf, so one gifted plant turns into several over time.
It is not considered toxic to animals, which is a real advantage over many flowering species in a household with a cat.
If a plant crosses Auckland in winter, protect it from cold. Brittle fleshy leaves are damaged by frost and by pressure alike.
JFLOO files saintpaulia under flowering plants. Start with the habit of watering from below. For this species it matters more than the cultivar does.